Herman Van Der Westhuizen

Herman Van Der Westhuizen

AGE:
49

PROFESSION:Managing Director : Water Skills Pty Ltd.

BACKGROUND:I grew up in Phalaborwa, studied Microbiology and Water Engineering and established Water Skills in 2003, a water engineering firm with in-house process and mechanical engineering technologies. I am married to Nina with two daughters and a son and live in Pretoria. Swimming/sport background: After swimming in pools my whole life, I started diving in my early thirties and pursued free-diving for a short while. I did my first Robben-Island crossing in 2009 followed by many more. As a family we are involved in various water sport activities and kite surfing. In 2014 my 16 year old daughter and I was part of the ADI Mount Elbrus Expedition in Russia.

ACHIEVEMENTS:English Channel crossing in 2012 and then did most of the Iron Man races from 2011 – 2015. Since late 2014 I started doing so called ice-swims that culminated in a 2nd place in the first SA Ice Swimming Championship in August 2015.

There aren’t many charities that would swim for hours in the Alaskan Pacific with pods of Orcas lurking in the depths.